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Battle looming over plans to curb strikes

Michael Savage and Graeme Paton

May 13 2015, 1:01am, The Times

The clash comes as the government faces the threat of industrial actionOli Scarff/Getty Images

A battle is looming between the Tories and Britain’s biggest unions after ministers signalled that they would push ahead with plans to make it harder to strike. In a provocative move, the proposals are to be prioritised in the first Queen’s Speech of this government.

Unite, Britain’s biggest union, has already warned that it will consider holding a vote this summer on a rule change allowing its members to strike illegally if a clampdown goes ahead. Under the change, the phrase “so far as may be lawful” could be deleted from the union’s rules on its activities.

Tory proposals include stopping a strike from going ahead unless at least half the workforce takes part in a ballot. A tougher threshold in essential public services will…